Our mountain herb garden seemed to winter over pretty well.
I cut back the winter savory and the sage. I replanted some oregano and rosemary. I washed and bundled the sage and savory for guests to use. I have the bundles hanging by the fireplace to dry.
These gorgeous blooms are the sage blossoms.
The Carolina Wrens seem to like our bear birdhouse. Last year when we first hung it out, they nested in it right away. Stephen and Sue were nice enough to send us pictures of the new additions to our Boone family. Last year’s hatchling were seen in early July.
This year is a much earlier roosting, perhaps because of the mild winter. Carolina Wrens usually roost for about 2 weeks and lay 4 – 6 eggs. The eggs are creamy or light pink wiht brown markings. They hae been known to roost in unusual places such as mailboxes and car bumpers.
If you are at the cabin and manage to get photos of the fledgling, please send them to me!
For the first time, I have seen a rose-breasted grosbeak at our birdfeeder. I have always known they are present in the high country in Summer. But considering they only spend a few days at feeders, I was fortunate to have a vist from one for 2 – 3 days. Typically, the male migrates a few days before the female, and this is the time he visits feeders. Once the females arrive, the males become territorial and do not visit feeders often.
This plump, bright faced beauty seemed to have alot to say.
It is always so thrilling to hear the Bzzzz of the hummingbirds in the morning and afternoon at our cabin in Boone.
No sooner do we set out the hummingbird feeders and we hear that familiar Bzzzz Bzzzz Bzz of them fighting over territory. Sometimes if we are sitting in the adirondack chairs in the afternoon, they will engage in such a battle that they actually buzz through our hair!
Our ruby throated hummingbirds are so familiar with us and the cabin that they come within 2 feet of us standing there. They look particularly green this year.
A great morning fog over the river after a thrilling night of boomers and lightning. Nothing like awakening to the crisp scent after a mountain rain!
Letter from a guest:
Trish, arrived home a ahort time ago after a wonderful week at Bearfoot Hideway. Was much cooler there than the 90 degree reception here in central new york. We enjoyed the wildlife around your lovely home. A deer visited the front yard regularly, chipmunks, squirrels, birds, hummingbirds all seen. We used a mix of sunflower and regular seed for more variety of birds. I am sending 2 pictures of the bear birdhouse, you may be able to make out the bird in the house. There were 3-4 babies and mother wren swooped by us about every time we walked up or down the stairs. Also enclosed is a picture of a bear wastebasket we bought for your home, it seemed to go with the decor.
Had to go back to Blowing Rock the next day and purchase one for my daughter or the one for you might have disappeared. I placed yours on the hearth, obviously you may have a better place for it. P.S. the bird store you mentioned is no longer there, closed over a year ago according to another store owner next door. Never did find a place.
Steve and Sue
One of our favorite vineyards in NC is Raffaldini Vineyards. It is in the Yadkin Valley region, about an hour or less from the cabin.
They have Wine Festivals a few times a year and we have been fortunate enough to be there at those times. The weather is usually sunny and warm no matter what time of year we have visited. Being outdoors in the bucolic orchards and vineyard is something Evan and I love.
Raffaldini Vineyards is located in Ronda, an area of the NC Piedmont that resembles Tuscany. The vineyard has just finished a gorgeous tasting house, Villa Raffaldini, that looks just like what you would find in a fine vineyard in Tuscany. Villa Raffaldini is constructed out of stone, distressed wood, slate, terracotta and stucco. The rooms are adorned with authentic, traditional Italian art, statuary, and wall hangings. The marble fountain bubbles with authenticity and is a lovely focal point for weddings and special events.
The gardens surrounding the building are peaceful with breathtaking views of the valley. There is always a wonderful spray of blooming flowers or trees. The fragrance from the peach trees is scrumptious and worth a visit to the Vineyard. I love to watch the frogs in the lilypond.
It was great to be able to share this place with Jordan and Melissa. We all enjoyed our tasting experience and spent a few hours sitting outside and absorbing the views and the weather.
It is so very challenging to coordinate travel plans with adult children. There is so much to take into consideration: cost, vacation time for 4 people, flight schedules, pet sitting, etc. So when Jordan and Melissa were unable to make it to the cabin last year at Christmas, we were all sorely disappointed! Add on top of that, Jordan’s bad luck with flying schedules. He has experienced more flight delays, cancellations or misadventures than anyone else in our family. So, when we were able to coordinate a late Fall weekend with them, we were all thrilled.
We arrived in Boone on Wednesday, Jordan and Melissa were arriving on Delta from JFK on Thursday evening. Weather was fine, this time it would happen!
Well, Jordan’s luck being what it was, we got a call Thursday afternoon that his flight was delayed. Then another call Thursday night that the flight was cancelled altogether. They were putting them on an American Airlines flight the next morning, but the flight was from La Guardia, not JFK. Delta put them up in a flea bag hotel at La Guardia airport and they were booked on a 7AM flight Friday.
6AM Friday morning, the phone rang….it was a MESS! Delta never notified AA that they passed the ticket to them, so when Jordan and Melissa went to the AA ticket counter, they were told the flight was full and there was no seat nor ticket for them. I can’t tell you how disappointing this was. Evan was starting to feel that he would never be able to see Jordan unless he went to NY. Time after time, flight mess ups cancelled our plans to visit with Jordan.
Jordan was furious, and with good reason. Delta stinks at customer service! He spent countless hours on the phone with Delta trying to find a way to get to NC. After hours, Melissa finally took over the negotiations, and managed to finally find a Delta rep who gave a hoot. They booked them on a flight for Friday night, late. They arrived around 1AM, worn but happy.
We had a wonderful weekend, but Delta totally screwed up their return flight! It is a good thing Melissa thought to call and confirm everything before they got to the airport. Delta completely cancelled them! Rectifying this took the better part of Saturday afternoon. Thank you Delta for living up to your reputation of being completely inept!
And on top of all if this, all Delta gave them was $150 off their flights to Lisbon. GEESH! I just pray Southwest would fly to Charlotte!
Tweetsie Railroad is one of the most sought after attractions in the High Country. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, Steam Engine #12 was built in 1917.
You can hop on board and have a real Wild West experience, complete with Cowboys & Indians and a ‘real’ train robbery!
The Theme Park has fabulous amusement park rides at the County Fair. You can stroll through the western style Main Street and look at the varmints in the town jail, or try out your skills at the shooting gallery and arcade. Why not try mining for gold on Miner’s Mountain? Or visit the animals in the Deer Park Zoo.
If you are lucky enough to be in Boone in October, don’t miss the Spooky Ghost Train ride, which runs on weekend nights in October.
Tweetsie Railroad is opened from May 1 (or thereabout) to October 31 (or thereabout)
Spending the day on Watauga Lake is one of my favorite summertime activities. We typically rent a pontoon boat for a little over $100 for the whole day. The boats are equipped with radio and CD player. A fully stocked picnic hamper and a stack of CDs makes the day perfect.
The kids settled in for an hour of sun bathing, while Evan and I operated the boat and listened to music. The scenery is so beautiful on Watauga Lake, I could spend the entire day doing nothing more than gazing at the mountains and lake. Despite my warnings, the girls took in a bit too much sun. Alas, it is hard to get 20 somethings to listen.
Watauga Lake is a man made reservoir made by damming Elk and Watauga Rivers. The old Tennessee town of Butler is at the bottom of Watauga Lake. Butler was a town where the Native Americans white settlers in the area interacted. It was a stop over for Daniel Boone.
We brought our own tubes to pull along behind the boat. We had a blast!
I am posting a bunch of pictures of our day on Watauga Lake here:
